Introductions
Your turn!
• Introduce yourself (give 4 points about your career to-date).
• Do you have previous experience of visiting a school/volunteering?
• What do you hope to get from this session today?
• Why did you choose ICT/technology as a career? What is the best
thing about your job?
Smart Futures
•
Smart Futures is a Government initiative working with industry, research and
education partners to promote science, technology, engineering and maths
(STEM) careers to post-primary students in Ireland.
•
Main aim is to improve the coordination of outreach resources and
encourage students to consider/retain STEM subjects at post-primary and
third level.
•
Objective is to grow awareness of what people working in STEM do and
what skills they use/require.
Smart Futures
• Co-ordinated by the SFI Discover Programme partnering with the Engineer’s
Ireland STEPS programme as well as PharmaChem Ireland, Royal Society of
Chemistry, the Institute of Physics and ICT Ireland.
What do we know?
• Ireland's top 10 multinational employers include tech giants like Intel, IBM,
HP, Microsoft, Apple and Google
• 1000+ companies employ tech staff across multiple sectors like digital
media, gaming, eRetail, life sciences, cybersecurity, financial services etc.
• 105,000+ people employed in the tech sector in Ireland
• 730+ Irish-owned digital technology companies
• The European app economy worth €10billion+ and employs 800,00 people
What do we know?
• Starting salaries for science, tech and engineering graduates are
between €24k- €31k
•
Analytics, Big Data, cybersecurity, mobile apps, cloud computing and high
tech manufacturing identified as key growth areas
•
86k people employed in physics-based jobs in Ireland
•
52k+ people employed in Irish and multinational Life Sciences companies (in
areas like Biotech, Medical Devices, Diagnostics, BioPharma etc).
Why now?
Higher + Ordinary
2014
Maths
52,381
Biology
32,957
Chemistry
8,604 (+5.5%)
Agri Science
7,926
Physics
7,177 (+11%)
Engineering
5,203
Applied Maths
1,706 (+7%)
Technology
1,102
Challenges
Benefits of Volunteering?
Communication: consider your audience
How would you present to a student group?
• How to present to a primary school audience?
• How to present to a post-primary school audience?
• How is technology relevant to the group in question?
• What questions would you expect from the group?
Great public speaking is…?
• Use humour, personal stories and conversational language – don’t patronise!
• Practice with a timer and allow time for questions.
• Project your voice, don’t mumble - be heard!
• Be personable, ask students direct questions, use first names.
• Connect with teacher pre-visit to agree content, pitch, age group etc.
• Use ice-breakers and transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
• Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
Volunteer Tips for Success
Be yourself
Keep it informal
and avoid
acronyms/
jargon!
Connect
with teacher
before visit
Bring/Use
Props
Consider your
clothes, body
language, and
tone
Reflect
Praise,
praise, praise
Every idea is a
good idea!
Buddy
up
Enjoy!
And now for your
actual presentation…!
Your name here
Job title
Company
What is technology?
Recognise anyone? works in technology?
Technology
Changing Our World
Technology keeps us connected
Computer science
Maths
Programming
Hardware
Apps
Graphics
Cloud computing
Social Media
Technology helps us look good
Health
Nutrition
Cosmetics
Sensors
Manufacturing
Medical Devices
Technology helps produce safe food
Biotechnology
Food science Agriculture
Microbiology
Meteorology Manufacturing
Technology helps us get there
Materials
Manufacturing
Physics
Maths
Energy
Transport
GPS
Technology helps us win!
Sports science
Biochemistry
Physics
Maths
Data analysis
Apps
E-textiles
Materials
Technology saves lives
Medical devices Pharmaceuticals Nanotechnology Immunology Maths Data analysis
Technology in the developing world /
protecting the environment
Construction
Energy
Agriculture
Communications
Health
Education
Technology helps education
Interactive learning
Collaboration
Research
Communication
Art and design
Finance and cybersecurity
Software
Data analytics
Physics
Maths
Forensics
Cryptography
Coding
e-Commerce
Digital Media Technology
Music
Film
Television
Radio
Print
Design
Animation
Publishing
Internet
Marketing
What skills do people in
technology need?
Problem solving and critical thinking
Teamwork and communication
Creativity, Innovation, Curiosity
MY STORY
Job title
Qualifications
Why I chose to work
in technology
My typical working day…
Benefits of working in technology
Diversity
Flexibility
Travel the world
Further training
Solve problems
QUESTIONS?
End of your presentation!
Dos and Don’ts
Information on Child protection and other issues
• Read and sign Smart Futures child protection sheet
• Teacher must stay in the room at all times!
What’s next?
• Smart Futures takes requests for visits
from schools
• Indicate your availability and where you
can travel to on sign up sheet
• Smart Futures contacts you to arrange
visits at a time that suits
•
Visits are evaluated by teacher and volunteer